Error message
Unable to fetch location details at this time.
Spider wasp with Huntsman
Cryptocheilus fabricolor / Sparasidae
-37.951, 145.251
Field Notes
Description:
The same active female wasp from the previous spotting but here it is seen with a huntsman spider that it has brought to its hole. The photos show it dragging the spider to the hole ( pic 4) <br>
The spider was paralysed and so did not move or struggle. I did look fresh.
Habitat:
Spotted in a national park amongst tufts of native grass.
Notes:
Dried bits of plant matter posed a real problem for this wasp, in its attempts to drag the spider to its burrow. But persistence paid-off !
These wasps seal their fresh prey in the burrow after laying a single egg in them. The wasp larva consumes the spider from the inside making sure that it leaves out vital organs till the last so that the spider stys alive and fresh as long as possible. The larva then pupates in a silk cocoon, emerging from the burrow eventually. <br>
More information on these wasps: <br>
https://australianmuseum.net.au/spider-wasps
Comments (2)